Youth national baseball championships underway in Summerside

Peanuts and Cracker Jack galore.

Summerside, P.E.I.,is once again playing host to the 15U boys national baseball championship, as teams competefor the Ray Carter Cup.

"Teams have been competing hard to represent their provinces over the last few months. They all converged onSummersideyesterday," said J.P.Desrosiers, director of community services forSummerside.

The championship brings together roughly 260athletes, coaches and baseball administrators from across the country to Queen Elizabeth Park.

'Beehiveof activity'

However, that number doesn't include parents and families, he added,that may use the championship as a "great excuse" to visitP.E.I.

"I think a lot of parents use it as a great excuse to come to P.E.I. and take in what we have to offer from a tourism standpoint all while supporting their youngsters,"Desrosiersjoked.

"It's certainly abeehive of activity," he added.

Hosting part of new city strategy

Desrosierssaid the city has a strong history of sport and has recently adopted a strategy to capitalize on what venues the city has, specifically Queen Elizabeth Park.

"As of late we've recently adopted a sport and event tourism strategy, diversifying our sport offering and sport tourism hosting," Desrosiers said.

"We're very fortunate. Queen Elizabeth Park is a fantastic, nationally recognized field. One of the driving factors behind doing more hosting was the fact that we are so blessed to have such great facility."

Playing through to Sunday evening

First pitch went Thursdayat 9 a.m. and teams play throughSunday evening, and the schedule can be foundonline.

"We encourage people to come out and enjoy some really good baseball,"Desrosierssaid.

"In the stands with rowdy fans, under the lights, some sunflower seeds on the go. It's a great experience for sure."

• MORE P.E.I. NEWS | Barns, tractors burn in Hunter River fire
• MORE P.E.I. NEWS |Wait listed: More than 7,500 Islanders still without a family physician